gaztemundu 2002 - Basque Country

Issue 56 YEAR 2002
GAZTEMUNDU
2002
Laburpena
SUMMARY
Laburpena
S U M M A R Y
AURKEZPENA ■ PRESENTATION
– Progress and renewal ..................................................................................................................
3
GAZTEMUNDU ■ GAZTEMUNDU
EUSKAL ETXEAK
Issue 56 - YEAR 2002 URTEA
EGILEA AUTHOR
Eusko Jaurlaritza-Kanpo
Harremanetarako Idazkaritza Nagusia
Basque Government
Secretary General for Foreign Action
C/ Navarra, 2
01007 VITORIA-GASTEIZ
Telephone: (+34) 945 01 79 00
[email protected]
ZUZENDARIA DIRECTOR
JOSU LEGARRETA
KOORDINAKETA ETA IDAZKETA
COORDINATION AND EDITORIAL OFFICE
SILVIA ARROYO
BENAN OREGI
OIER ARAOLAZA
JON MAYA
ARGAZKIAK PHOTOGRAPHS
MIKEL ARRAZOLA
JON BERNÁRDEZ
OIER ARAOLAZA
GRACIELA SANSINANEA
ARGITARATZAILEA EDITOR
Eusko Jaurlaritzaren Argitalpen Zerbitzu Nagusia
Basque Government Central Publication Service
DISEINUA DESIGN
BASSARAI EDICIONES
INPRIMATZAILEA PRINTING
GRÁFICAS SANTAMARÍA, S.A.
LEGAL DEPOSIT: BI-841-96
ISSN 1579-4210
– Dance, a connecting link ...................................................................................................
4
– A wide choice........................................................................................................................
6
– Dancing online ............................................................................................................................ 10
– Gaztemundu photo album ..................................................................................................... 12
– Gaztemundu ala Dantzamundu?.......................................................................................... 23
– Participants.................................................................................................................................... 26
– “The most powerful symbol of the Basque legacy”....................................................... 30
– Dantzaris and suchlike.............................................................................................................. 32
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT ■ GEHIGARRI BEREZIA
– A democratic commitment to the will of the Basque people.
The lehendakari speaks before the plenary session on general policy................ 13
P R E S E N TAT I O N
Aurkezpena
P R O G R E S S A N D R E N E WA L
The history of the world is a continual search for
renovation and change. Nothing can remain the same
forever. A society in evolution does not allow itself to
become stagnant; a society in evolution keeps an eye to
the future, setting its sights with
interest and ambition on progress.
Tradition is what persists; it is what we
hold on to as an emblem of our own
cultural roots, a sign of identity which
keeps us united. It is which shows
others that we belong to a certain
group of people.
Tradition, however, does not
mean traditionalism or intransigence to
change. We must live for and create the
future; we need to modernize and
move forward or allow ourselves to fall
behind. We must follow the course
marked by the society itself, a society
which is active because of its ability to
adapt to the times.
Without roots there can be no trees. But trees
cannot exist without branches and leaves and new fruit.
The Basque centers see to preserving these roots,
disseminating Basque folklore as part of their activities.
With the same aim in mind, this year the Basque
Government organized a monographic Gaztemundu in
order to give dance teachers from the various Euskal
Etxeak the chance to broaden their repertory and to learn
about the scenario of Basque folk tradition today. 38
dance directors took part in the program, showing their
professionalism and their interest in moving forward.
They also demonstrated that they are fully aware that we
cannot always be anchored to the past and that Basque
culture, just like any other, is evolving.
It is not a matter of bringing about a radical change
in the type of dances, but instead to learn new dances
and to become more diverse. We are all the makers of
history, but today’s reality is much more than a struggle
to keep our past alive. Remembering the past is essential,
but we must do so while looking towards the future and
setting our sights on the new reality.
The work and effort by the participants of this
year’s Gaztemundu program should be commended.
They were eager and determined to learn and improve
their skills, taking with them a variety of new steps to
teach their students back home. Their efforts are living
proof that tradition and progress are not incompatible
and that we can maintain our customs while at the same
time enriching our own culture.
Mundua berritzen eta aldatzen ahalegindu da
historian zehar etengabe. Ezer ez da betiko eta aldatzeak berak erakusten du gizarte bat ez dagoela
zaharkitua eta etorkizunak jakin-mina eta gogoa
eragiten dizkiola. Tradizioa geratzen
zaigu, eta horri eusten diogu gure
kultura-sustraiaren ikurra baita, gure
nortasunaren ezaugarri bat baita,
batzen gaituena eta herri bereko
gizataldea garela erakusten duena
besteen aurrean.
Baina tradizioa ez da tradizionalismoa, tradizioa ez da inmobilismoari gogor eustea edo aldatzeari
uko egitea.
Etorkizunean bizi eta etorkizuna
sortu behar dugu, eraberritu eta
aldatu behar dugu, atzean geratu
nahi ez badugu.
Gizarteak berak erakusten digun
ildoari jarraitu behar diogu bizitzeko,
gizarteak garai berrietara egokitzeko ahalmenari esker
baitihardu bizirik.
Ez dago sustrairik ez duen zuhaitzik, baina ez
legoke zuhaitzik zuhaitzek adarrik eta orririk ez balute
eta fruiturik emango ez balute. Euskal etxeek euskal
folklorea ezagutaraziz zaintzen dituzte sustrai horiek.
Eusko Jaurlaritzak ere Gaztemundu monografiko bat
eratu du aurten, euskal etxeetako dantza irakasleek
euskal folklorearen egoera ezagutu eta errepertorioa
zabal dezaten. 38 zuzendarik hartu dute parte eta,
profesionaltasunetik abiatuta, aurrera egiteko gogoa
erakutsi dute, ondo baitakite ezin dela iraganari lotuta
egon beti eta euskal kultura, gainontzeko kulturak
bezala, aldatzen ari dela.
Kontua ez da dantzetan erabateko aldaketak
eragitea, baizik eta beste berri batzuk ikastea eta
aniztasunaren bitartez haztea. Historia guztiok egiten
dugu eta errealitatea gure oroimenak esperantza egi
bihurtzeko egiten duen ahalegina baino askoz gehiago
da. Iragana gogora ekarri behar dugu, baina
etorkizunari eta errealitate berriari begiratuta.
Gaztemundu programan parte hartu dutenen lana
goraipatzekoa da. Gogotik ahalegindu dira ikasten,
hobetzen, eta ikasleei erakusteko dantza pauso ugari
ikasita bueltatu dira etxera. Horrek erakusten du
tradizioa eta aldatzea bateragarriak direla, gure ohiturei
eutsi eta aldi berean gure kultura aberastu ahal dela.
JOSU LEGARRETA BILBAO
Director of Relations with Basque Associations
Euskal Gizataldeekiko Harremanetarako zuzendaria
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GAZTEMUNDU 2002
DANC E, A CON N ECTI NG LI N K
Lehendakari Juan José Ibarretxe thanked the participants in Gaztemundu 2002 for
their admirable work as dance teachers at their Basque centers, pointing out that
through their efforts they are passing on to the younger generations one of the most
deeply rooted traditions in Euskadi. The 38 members of the program joined the
lehendakari in the Soka Dantza, a group folk dance which today’s Aurresku originally
formed part of and which is now in the process of being brought back into use.
Basque club dance teachers play a vital role in
keeping our culture alive, since dance is one of the
activities that most actively encourages young people to
become part of the Basque centers. Those were the
thoughts expressed by Lehendakari Juan José Ibarretxe
at the reception in honor of the 38 members of the
Gaztemundu 2002 program. The lehendakari thanked
them for their dedication and hard work in keeping the
most deeply-rooted traditions of Basque culture alive
and well, even from such great distances.
The lehendakari offered words of appreciation to
the program participants in Basque, English and
Spanish, and later spoke to them on an individual basis.
It was an emotional event complete with Basque dance,
the indisputable star of this year’s edition of Gaztemundu. Guests and authorities joined hands to perform
one of the group dances which for centuries was the
main event of any fiesta or celebration in most Basque
towns and villages: the Soka Dantza.
Soka Dantza does not generally ring a bell for most
people. However, when the name Aurresku is
mentioned, it is a different story. Today there is virtually
no celebration, tribute, welcoming event or ceremony
that does not include this traditional ‘dance-salute.’ Few
people are aware that the Aurresku is only a part of the
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Soka Dantza, a dance which symbolizes a united society
that moves as one to the beat of the txistu.
The Gaztemundu participants demonstrated what
they had learned during their stay in Euskadi,
performing the steps to a dance which is gaining
ground in many towns throughout the Basque Country.
GAZTEMUNDU 2002
Gaztemundu par ticipants and
the lehendakari did the Sokadantza , a popular gr oup dance
traditionally seen at Basque
celebrations. The Aur r esku is a
par t of this dance
They made a chain with the Basque authorities, the
lehendakari at the front of the line in the role of leader,
or aurreskulari (hence the name of the best-known
Basque dance).
The Soka Dantza calls for two people to take on
an individual challenge. Santiago Rato from Instituto
Euskal Etxea in Llavallol, Buenos Aires, and Xanti
Alcelay, member of the Oinkari Basque Dancers from
Boise, rose to the challenge of a ‘hand in hand’
Aurresku, following the music enthusiastically and with
perfect timing.
All of the Gaztemundu participants then danced
to the rhythm of the fandango, showing that music is
an international language and that regardless of the
countries they were from, Basque dance was an
important means of connection between them. And the
link only grew stronger over the two weeks they spent
in Euskadi, jam packed with classes, teaching, learning
and rehearsals. “Sharing the same excitement and
passion brought us together quickly. We returned to our
origins and found that there are a lot of people who
enjoy the same things as we do, that the work we’ve
been doing is appreciated and that it has a future.” This
was the unanimous feeling expressed by all of the
people taking part in Gaztemundu. ■
The pictures above depict three different periods
of the Soka-dantza, a dance that is making a
comeback in a number of Basque towns.
5
GAZTEMUNDU 2002
The participants in Gaztemundu 2002
saw the performance put on by Urbeltz
in Biarritz.
A W I D E R AN G E
The Gaztemundu 2002 program was based on a wide range of Basque
dances. Participants were exposed to traditional dances from all of the
Basque regions and given the chance to take classes from some of the
country’s most acclaimed dantzaris.
One of the main goals of the Gaztemundu 2002
program was to provide participants with the broadest
possible view of the traditional Basque dance panorama
today. We are all aware of the richness and diversity of
Basque folk dances, steps, rhythms, costumes and so on,
all of which made up the subject matter and foundation
for this year’s edition of Gaztemundu.
The program took this direction based on a feeling
common to nearly all of us. Dantzaris have few options in
terms of what path to take. We are all the result of a
certain way of going about our work, which is generally
tied to where a person is born. It is inevitable that you
learn what you are taught, and that everyone tends to
defend their position wherever they go.
This phenomenon is very commonly found in Euskal
Herria, in the Basque diaspora and probably throughout
the rest of the world as well. We also believe that the best
way to understand Basque dance and to feel fulfilled with
it is by becoming as close to it as possible, to become
familiar with all of its angles and tendencies. In this way
each person can chose the path he or she feels most
identified with. That is why the Gaztemundu 2002
program brought together people with different ways of
thinking and sometimes with opposing tendencies. The
program set out to present a broader reflection of
6
traditional Basque dance in hopes that this basic
knowledge would equip all of the participants with the
tools and essentials they need to decide for themselves
which path to take and to have access to a much broader
panorama.
It is impossible to provide exact answers to all of the
questions danztaris have. One might say that when it
comes to tradition no one really knows the absolute truth,
and for this very reason there are different tendencies and
very diverse ways of thinking. A brief summary of the
Gaztemundu 2002 experience is provided below.
Representation from all of the regions
The program encompassed different aspects of
traditional Basque dance. One of the most important of
these involved an excursion to all of the Basque regions to
provide participants with a retrospective overview of the
dances from each area.
Gipuzkoa: Angel Murua put together a theoretical
introduction to Gipuzkoan dances, summarizing the
information collected by Iztueta in his book Gipuzkoako
dantza gogaingarriak. He also explained the development
over history of a number of dances.
Iñaki Arregi was in charge of presenting the work
released by Ikerfolk, Jira galdua. The publication,
GAZTEMUNDU 2002
dedicated to dance teachers, is a compilation of all the
Gipuzkoan dance steps transcribed by Iztueta. The steps
included in the book are the basis for all of the dances
from Gipuzkoa. In other words, learning these steps
makes it much easier to then learn the dances themselves
or to better interpret Zortzikos or Doinu zaharrak. It was a
good opportunity to get a better grasp of the feeling and
character of Gipuzkoan dances.
Bizkaia: Iñaki Irigoien from the dance group Euskal
Dantzarien Biltzarra (EDB) gave a summary of the dances
of Bizkaia. He talked about the most characteristic dances
in the region and gave a presentation on the dance project
EDB has been working on. The outcome of the group’s
work includes a recording of Biscayan dance, Bizkaiko
dantzak, plus the future release of a second record and
CD-ROM. Without a question, this type of material was of
great interest to program participants.
In the second part of the program dedicated to
Bizkaia, Sabin Egiguren wanted to illustrate the true origin
of dance. To the founder of Bizkai Folklore Elkartea, the
real essence of dance lies in its most popular expression.
Dantzaris who want to interpret traditional Basque dance
have to its roots. In addition to explaining his concept of
dance, Sabin offered some basic tips on dancing the Jota
and the Dantzari Dantza.
Lapurdi: Dance teacher Claude Iruretagoyena was in
charge of presenting the dances of Lapurdi. The jauzis or
Basque jumps and the polkas inherited from France and
other European countries made up the core of the class.
Information was also shared on the history of Lapurdi
dance and its festivities revolving around carnival.
PROGRAM
September 7th - BASQUE WEEK IN ZARAUTZ
• Aurresku Competition.
• Individual dance competition.
September 8th - OCHAGAVIA
• Dances in honor of the Virgin of Muskilda.
September 9th - ZARAUTZ
• Basque Fiesta.
September 10th - DONOSTIA
• Conference and txistu concert by José Ignacio
Ansorena, Director of the Municipal Txistulari
Band.
• Sitting in on rehearsals of different groups in the
area.
September 11th - DONOSTIA
• Conference by Urbeltz on the Argia dance group
as an exponent of Basque dance.
• Conference by Ángel Murua: Dances of Gipuzkoa.
• Gipuzkoan dances taught by Iñaki Arregi.
September 12th - BIARRITZ
• Class on dances from Benafarroa and Lapurdi.
Taught by Claude Iruretagoyena.
Theory and practice.
September 13th - ZARAUTZ-OIARTZUN
• Tour of Basque Folk Music Museum in Oiartzun
and conference by
Juan Mari Beltrán: Basque folk music and
instruments.
September 14th - ZARAUTZ-BASAURI
• Euskal Herriko Dantza Agerketa
Bizkotxalde park in Basauri.
September 15th - BIARRITZ-BARRIA
• Debut of new Urbeltz show in Biarritz.
• Transfer to Barria hostel.
September 16th - VITORIA-GASTEIZ
• Dances of Alava, theory and practice.
Academia de Folklore.
– Director: Pedro Elosegi.
– Teachers: Jon Fernández and Elena González
de Artaza.
Sabin Egiguren offered tips on how to dance the
Jota and the Dantzari Dantza.
7
GAZTEMUNDU 2002
Araba: The leaders of the Gasteiz Folklore
Academy began their presentation with a question:
Dantzan ere Araba zazpigarren alaba? (Is Alava also
the seventh when it comes to dance?) To prove it
isn’t so, that Alava also has a rich folk tradition, they
orchestrated an comprehensive class which included
a variety of dances, as well as costumes and written
music from Alava.
Nafarroa: Joxemiel Bidador and Patxi Laborda
led the presentation on Navarra. Bidador talked
about the different types of dances and where they
can still be found today. He also made mention of
some of the traditions that have been lost over time.
Patxi Laborda’s class focused on the more playful
aspect of dance, the Irri-dantzak or dance games of
the Baztán Valley.
Zuberoa: Dance teachers Oier Araolaza and
Garikoitz Otamendi provided a quick overview of the
dances of Zuberoa, concentrating mainly on the
particular steps and uniqueness of the dances.
Gaztemundu participants watch carefully as Patxi
Laborda demonstrates some of the dance steps.
Teachers from each region
Equally as significant as the demonstrations from
each of the Basque regions was the presence of local
teachers. This is an aspect we wanted to place particular
emphasis on for one simple yet very important reason:
each dance has its own special character and the people
who best perform the dances are, without a doubt, the
local dantzaris. They are the direct inheritors of tradition
and the people who have the most direct experience both
as spectators and active participants. It is generally said
that the best way to understand a message is by hearing
it first hand. This is what we have tried to do with the
Gaztemundu program. We have gone directly to the
source to see the dances from each region, while selecting
only top-notch teachers to ensure the best possible
teaching quality. All of the teachers taking part in
Gaztemundu 2002 make up an essential part of the
traditional Basque dance panorama today.
In addition to classes on dances from each of the
regions, participants had the opportunity to take in other
activities. One of these was a lecture by the distinguished
folklorist Juan Antonio Urbeltz, who talked about his
latest theories on the origin and symbolism of Basque
dances. Urbeltz is one of the foremost names in Basque
dance, as director of the group Argia, pioneers in creating
new dance forms. Juan Antonio Urbeltz is also greatly
admired for his research work.
Where would dance be without music? In this aspect
the program was delighted to be able to count on the
presence of two experts in traditional Basque music–txistu
player Jose Ignacio Ansorena and Juan Mari Beltran,
director of the museum of traditional music, Herri
Musikaren Txokoa.
Four expressions of Basque dance
Dance teacher Claude Iruretagoyena shows
students some of the distinctive features of
Lapurdi dances.
8
The Gaztemundu participants were given the option
of taking in different performances and dance activities.
While these events were not organized expressly for the
program, the schedule coincided time-wise, allowing
participants to experience the four ways traditional folk
dance is seen in Euskal Herria today:
Dance in its natural setting: The Gaztemundu
program got underway on September 8th, the day the
dantzaris from Ochagavía perform their typical dances
GAZTEMUNDU 2002
PROGRAM
and paloteados or stick-games in honor of the Virgin of
Muskilda. This is the best possible illustration of
September 17th - BILBAO
indigenous dance. The dantzaris only take part in their
own local dances and only on this particular day. They
• Workshop at the Kafe Antzokia in Bilbao.
then take excursions to a few other towns to perform
• Conference on the dances of Bizkaia by
the dances. However, do not dance at any other time; in
Iñaki Irigoien.
fact, most of them do not even see themselves as
• Dance class by Sabin Egiguren:
dantzaris. Their sole purpose is to keep the centuries-old
Tips on dancing the jota.
tradition alive. This is the most ‘native’ expression of
• Dantza Piko led by Patxi Perez and his group
traditional dance.
Bat, Bi, Hiru.
Different indigenous dances sharing the stage: As
part of the Dantza Agerketa festival in Basauri, we were
September 18th - VITORIA-GASTEIZ
able to see groups perform the dances from their towns,
but in this case on a stage as part of a festival. Groups
• Dance workshop and review
from such places as Tafalla, Markina, Antzuola and
of previous days’ lessons.
Donibane Garazi performed local dances, giving us the
• Visit to the Office of the Basque Premier.
chance to see indigenous dances from a variety of areas
on a single stage.
September 19th - IRUÑA-PAMPLONA
Dance groups: In addition to the indigenous groups,
the repertories of nearly all of the dance groups in Euskal
• Conference by Joxe Miguel Bidador on the
Herria consist of dances from all over the Basque
dances of Navarra.
Country. Their performances tend to include a small
selection of dances from each region. The groups the
• Dance class on the dances of Navarra led
by Patxi Laborda.
participants saw to see can be best described by (Eskola,
Goizaldi, Ereintza, Kresala) fall into this category, as do
September 20th - BARRIA HOSTEL
many others.
New choreographies: Also forming part of
• Rehearsal of choreography for performance by
traditional Basque dance is the phenomenon of new
Gaztemundu participants in Azpeitia.
creation. Research and education on traditional dance
September 21st
has always been the main focus for dance groups.
DAY OF THE DANTZARI IN AZPEITIA
However, at different times throughout history attempts
have been made to create choreographies and
• Gaztemundu group joins other dance groups
performances, nearly always based on traditional dances,
in the Day of the Dantzari in Azpeitia.
steps and movements. Without a doubt, the most
popular in recent years are the dances created by Juan
Antonio Urbeltz for his dance group Argia.
The participants in Gaztemundu had the
opportunity to be present at the debut of
Urbeltz’s most recent work, Pas de Basque.
Currently there are a number of groups
whose performances are based on folk
dance; however, the dances themselves
differ somewhat from those performed by
the dance groups mentioned above.
This brief summary of the program is
meant to help us think back on the spirit
and feeling of Gaztemundu 2002. It was a
unique opportunity for all of the
participants to see traditional Basque dance
Juan Antonio Urbeltz
first hand, to discover the best tools for
explains his ideas on
gaining an even deeper understanding and
the origin and
to be assured that the important work they
symbolism of
are doing in their Basque clubs is
traditional Basque
dances.
appreciated. We wish them the very best of
luck. ■
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GAZTEMUNDU 2002
DANCING ONLINE
Dantzaris the world over can contact each other through the Internet. Although
information on Basque dance online is still scarce, there are a few websites that
provide some very interesting material.
We work online, search for remedies to our aches and pains online, plan our vacations online, send e-mails to
friends and even to people we don’t know…we even fall in love in online chat rooms. However, fortunately or
unfortunately, we still can’t dance online or organize dance groups through Internet chat sessions. But don’t worry,
it’ll all come sooner or later. Meanwhile, little by little we’re seeing more online resources that allow us to get in
touch with other dantzaris around the globe. There’s a lot of room for online projects and very little out there so far.
But don’t despair–let’s try to get the most out of what’s already floating around out there in cyberspace.
www.dantzak.com - Bizkaiko Dantzak (Spanish – Euskara – English)
On this website visitors will find all the resources they need to learn, clean up
and find information on the best-known dances in Bizkaia. A general description is
given for each one, along with historical and geographical background, music,
music score and costumes. There are also videos showing individual steps and entire
dances, as well as animated graphics to provide a clear picture of the dantzaris’
movements throughout the dances.
Nearly twenty dances from Bizkaia can be found on this website: Agintariena,
Arin Arin, Banango, Binango, Biribilketa, Dantzari Dantza, Ezpata Joku Nagusia,
Ezpata Joku Txikia, Fandango, Gorulari, Kaixarranka, Lanestosako Uztai Dantza, Launango, Lekeitioko Aurreskua,
Makil Joku, Soka Dantza, Txotxongilo, Xemeingo Ezpata Dantza, and Zortzinango.
In addition to the specifics of each dance, at dantzak.com visitors will find a number of research articles on
Basque folklore and several ethnographical papers on Basque costumes, rituals and traditions. The website is hosted
by Fundación Elai-Alai in Portugalete.
www.euskaldantzarienbiltzarra.com
Euskal Dantzarien Biltzarra (Spanish – Euskara)
This is the official website of Euskal Dantzarien Biltzarra (EDB). It includes
information on Basque dance, a recent history of dance groups in Euskal Herria, an
introduction to Basque folklore and notes on the dances of Zuberoa, Lapurdi and
Benafarroa, together with videos of the dances. A calendar of dance performances
in the Basque Country is posted, as well as a calendar of traditional folk events.
Also available at this site is a list put out by the Federación de dantzaris of
journals, recordings and videos; the addresses and contact names and numbers of the EDB offices; and the complete list
of Euskal Dantzarien Biltzarra partner dance groups organized by region.
http://basque.unr.edu/dance/ - Cyber Dantza (English)
The Center for Basque Studies of the University of Nevada sponsors a website
called Cyber Dantza created by Lisa Corcostegui from Zenbat Gara Euskal Dantzari
Taldea in Reno (www.dantzariak.net). The page includes general information on
traditional Basque dance, together with details on different dances arranged by
geographical region, and photographs of each type of dance costume.
Cyber Dantza is also a resource for information on Basque dance groups in the
United States, and contains a Basque dance bibliography and a selection of essays
written by Lisa Corcostegui. A link entitled ‘Field Notes’ takes visitors to Lisa
Corcostegui’s photo journal, part of her Ph.D. research project on Basque dance. Here you will find photographs of the
dances performed in Oñate for Corpus Christi and a number of other activities associated with folk dance and customs
the author has experienced during her visits to Euskal Herria.
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GAZTEMUNDU 2002
The online magazine Dantzaldizkaria provides a great deal of information for dantzaris around the
world. This publication can be found at www.dantzariak.net/dantzaldizkaria.
http://www.dantzan.com - dantzan.com (Euskara)
Dantzan.com is an online source for news about Basque dance sponsored by
the Eibar-based folk dance group Kezka. Dantzan.com brings readers up to date on
Basque dance by posting news briefs on its home page and providing a newspaper
library with links to news published in the Basque press. This website serves as an
open newsroom, where dance groups and readers exchange information related to
Basque dance. In the section called “Edukiak” visitors will find a selection of articles
and books on Basque folk dance.
At dantzan.com readers can keep up with the latest publications connected
to Basque dance. By clicking the heading “Argitalpenak” visitors will find
descriptions of recent releases of books, magazines, CDs and videos.
In 1998 the Basque Studies Society–Eusko Ikaskuntza, in partnership with the Basque Government, compiled a
bibliography and commentary on traditional Basque dance, which was published under the title Invitación al estudio de
la danza tradicional en el País Vasco. The publication, which can be found at dantzan.com under the heading
“Bibliografia,” includes over 2000 bibliographic references on the subject of Basque dance.
In a section called “Loturak,” dantzan.com provides one of the most complete online directories on Basque dance.
In the category on traditional dances, grouped according to region, visitors will find virtually everything that has ever been
published in the Internet on Basque dance. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, you can request that the publication
be added to the list.
http://www.ysursa.com/onati.htm - Oñati Dantza Taldea, Boise (English)
Ever since 1980 on the feast day of St Ignatius the dances of Corpus Christi in
Oñati have been performed in Boise, Idaho. In just a few year’s time the number of
dantzaris taking part in the event has risen enormously, and the tradition has taken
on a feel of its own.
John Ysursa has collected a great deal of information on the Corpus Christi
dances in Oñati, including historical data, religious aspects surrounding the event,
and a brief bibliography on the subject. The website also explains how the dances
were first introduced in Boise and how they took root. It also cites the documents
the Boise dantzaris used as the groundwork for later adding their own special
characteristics to the event. The website also includes photographs showing the evolution in Boise of the Oñate Corpus
Christi dances and costumes. ■
Online discussion group on Basque dance
Associated with the website dantzan.com, an e-mail discussion list in Basque is available at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dantzan/. This discussion group is used by some 60 people interested in Basque folk
dance, who share information and opinions in Euskara. Anyone can subscribe to the forum by sending a blank e-mail
message to [email protected]. All of the messages sent so far can be viewed by visiting
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dantzan/messages.
Two additional discussion groups on Basque dance have also been created, one of them in Spanish
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/danzavasca) and the other in English (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/basquedance).
To subscribe to these groups:
Spanish: send a blank e-mail message to: [email protected]
English: send a blank e-mail message to: [email protected]. ●
11
GAZTEMUNDU 2002
P H OTO ALB U M
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SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
Gehigarri berezia
A democratic commitment
to the will of the Basque people
Lehendakari Juan José Ibarretxe speaks before the Basque Parliament in a
plenary session on general policy held on September 27th 2002
Gehigarri berezia
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
A NEW POLITICAL PACT
FOR COEXISTENCE
Basque society expects solutions
Basque society is expectant. It is looking to us. It
expects solutions from its political representatives. As
lehendakari, I and the Basque government are not about
to let them down.
We will not resign ourselves to the impasse offered
by ETA, which is nothing more than a blind alley marked
by hatred and frustration. Nor will we resign ourselves to
immobilism, blockade tactics, and the unbending refusal
of the Popular Party and the Spanish Socialist Party to
provide solutions. Rather than bringing us any closer to
peace, this path only leads to increased social tension.
Basque society does not want more sterile debates
on the past, nor does it want to be dragged into
permanent confrontation and social discord.
The Basque people are tired of violence. They are
tired of imposition and threats. And they are tired of
negative messages.
It is not true that we are an ‘immature society,’ as
some people resentfully claimed after the last elections.
We are a sensible and deeply-rooted people who are
mature enough to decide our own future.
The Basque people want answers. They want to
look towards the future without renouncing the past.
Basque society wants to move on.
A need for a new political agreement with the
Spanish government as the key to a draft
solution
In order to respond to this expectation, a new
political agreement needs to be drawn up, one which
adapts to our framework of self-government and to the
aspirations of the majority of the Basque population
today, and which uses the instruments and powers
enshrined in the Statute of Gernika.
This is the strategic plan for the future and draft
solution designed to provide a solution to this conflict,
which, as lehendakari, I wish to propose to Basque
society.
It is not a matter of renouncing the past or
underestimating the level of well-being we now enjoy
thanks to the efficient management of the powers
assumed through the Statute currently in force.
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We are talking about building a new plan for
coexistence based on the principles of free association
and shared sovereignty, and not on a strategy of
subordination and the imposition of a particular view of
the State which ignores the wishes of the Basque people.
As I have already expressed publicly before this
House, we must accept once and for all that the problem
of political normalization lies not only in determining
which competence will be administered by whom. The
solution to the problem of political normalization lies in
recognizing that the Basque region is not subordinate to
the Spanish State, but a nation with its own identity with
the capability to establish its own framework of internal
relations and to form part of a truly plurinational state
under the terms of free association.
In spite of the deaf ear that has been turned on
certain democratic decisions made by Basque society, the
hard and fast truth is there. Looking the other will do
nothing to resolve the ongoing historical problem of
political normalization and coexistence.
And the hard and fast truth is that on February 15th,
1990, by an absolute majority of 38 votes and without
support from Herri Batasuna, the Basque Parliament
proclaimed “the Basque people have the right to selfdetermination. This right lies in the authority of its citizens
to decide their political, economic, social and cultural
status freely and democratically, either by providing itself
with its own political framework or by sharing its
sovereignty, totally or in part, with other peoples.”
And the hard and fast truth is that eight out of ten
citizens in the Autonomous Community of the Basque
Country turned out to vote in the last regional elections,
the majority of which ratified a program which defended
the right of the Basque people to have a say in deciding
their own future.
The truth is that on June 12th the Basque Parliament
passed a motion to develop the potentialities envisaged in
the current Statute, and to begin working on a new
political agreement with the Spanish government which
will conform to the freely and democratically expressed
aspirations of the majority of the Basque people.
This is the harsh reality. Refusing to face it is not only
an exercise in political irresponsibility, but a betrayal of the
legitimate desires and aspirations of the majority of the
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
Gehigarri berezia
I want to make a personal contribution in finding a
solution. Therefore, in this debate on general policy I
would like to take two important new steps.
First, I will clarify the project by describing the
contents of the new Agreement for Coexistence.
Secondly, I am going to outline the fundamental
steps that need to be followed in the process for the
development and materialization of the Agreement.
The project: A new status of free association with
Spain for a new phase in history
Basque people, who want to move forward in finding a
solution for peaceful coexistence.
Therefore, it is essential to face reality and create a
new political agreement, capable of encompassing and
adopting the democratic will of Basque society.
As you are aware, at the plenary session last October
25th, I addressed the need to develop the potentialities of
the Statute in order to achieve a new agreement, a new
common ground for coexistence. I put forward the
principles and the basis of the project, upon which, as I
see it, the new agreement should be developed. I did so
with by making an open proposal as a contribution to a
debate which I believe should be conducted by a
Commission on Self-government created for this purpose.
You know the rest of the only too well because you
have been directly involved for six months in the
exhaustive work of that Parliamentary Commission over.
Your work led to a report approved at the plenary session
on July 12th, which ratified in its entirety the issues put
forward on October 25th 2001.
In this regard, I wish to convey to the public opinion
of the Basque Country and Spain my staunch desire as
lehendakari, and that of the three political parties that
make up the Basque government to continue making
headway on this proposal. We will see it through to the
end because we are convinced that this is the best path
and that it represents the desires of the majority of the
Basque people.
The doors to the process will remain wide open to
participation by representatives of all political forces in the
Basque Country, although it should be known right now
that we will not allow the right to veto to keep our hands
tied and prevent us from moving forward in this direction.
In order to move forward, we must make a start,
and if we have to set out on our own, we will, because
we consider that we have sufficient political strength and
support from the Basque people. In the end Basque
society will be the one to ratify, reward or chastise the
validity of the results achieved.
The project:
A new status of free association
with Spain for a new phase in history
THE PILLARS
The objective is to reach an agreement for coexistence
based on recognition of the right of the Basque
people to be consulted on decisions concerning their
own future. This pact is founded on three basic pillars:
a) The Basques are a people with their own identity;
b) The Basque people have the right to decide their own
future;
c) This right shall be based on a respect for the decisions
of the citizens of the different legal and political
spheres in which they are situated.
a) A nation with its own identity
The Basques are a nation with their own identity
and a member of the community of European peoples.
The Basque nation is the depositary of a unique
historical, social and cultural heritage. While this
heritage cannot be monopolized by any single group, it
belongs to the inhabitants of the provinces of Alava,
Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa, Navarra, Lapurdi, Zuberoa and
Benafarroa, located on both sides of the Pyrenees.
The geographical area in which the Basque people
have lived throughout their history has been know by
different names such as Vasconia, the Kingdom of
Navarre, Euskalherria, País Vasco-Navarro, Euskadi and
the Basque Country.
The Basque nation today is made up of three legaladministrative regions spread over two states. On the
one hand, the Autonomous Community of the Basque
Country–which includes the historical territories of
Alava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa–and the Foral Community
of Navarra, both of which are situated inside the Spanish
borders. And on the other hand, provinces of
Iparralde–Lapurdi, Zuberoa and Benafarroa–located
within French territory and with no official legal status of
their own.
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Gehigarri berezia
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
At no time during their history have the Basque
people ever been considered an exclusive entity, nor could
they ever be–no one, now or in the past, has been
excluded from belonging to this group, if he or she so
wishes. Instead, the nation has been built on a thriving
social reality, the result of individual and voluntary sense
of self-identification with Basque identity. Moreover, in
many cases this feeling is compatible with a sense of
belonging to other nations or states.
The feeling of being part of the Basque nation goes
beyond legal or political borders. Feelings of national
identity cannot be imposed or prohibited by any decree,
law or constitution. As is expressly stated in the Charter of
Human Rights and Freedoms, the right of every individual
to express any feeling of belonging and identity they
want, must be accepted as totally natural.
b) The Basque people have the right to decide
their own future
The right of Basque People to be consulted in order
to decide their own future, was passed by this Parliament
by absolute majority in 1990, and in accordance with the
internationally recognized right to self-determination of
peoples recognized, among others, in article 1 of the
International Agreement of Civil and Political Rights and
the International Agreement of Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights: “All Peoples have the right to free
determination and in virtue of this right, to freely establish
their own political organization and provide for their
economic, social and cultural development.”
Moreover, these agreements have been
incorporated into the body of constitutional legislation of
Spain by means of an instrument of ratification deposited
on April 13th 1977.
c) This right shall be based on a respect for the
decisions of the citizens of the different legal
and political spheres in which they are situated
The exercise of the right of the Basque people to
decide their own future is based on a scrupulous respect
for the right of citizens from of different legal and political
spheres in which they are situated to be consulted on
decisions concerning their own future. In other words,
this implies respecting the decisions made by citizens of
the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, the
decisions made by citizens of the Foral Community of
Navarra, and the decisions made by citizens of Iparralde,
both to establish any internal relations between them and
the relations they wish to establish with the states in
which they are located.
THE PROPOSAL AND ITS CONTENTS
– In accordance with our right to make decisions as
an integral part of the Basque nation, namely the
16
Autonomous Community of the Basque Country.
– By virtue of our original sovereignty, recognized on
the basis of the validity and modernization of our
pre-existing historical rights, laid down explicitly in
the Constitution.
– In accordance with the Additional Provision of the
Statute of Gernika and with the agreement made
by the Basque Parliament on February 15th 1990,
proclaiming the Basque People’s Right to Selfdetermination.
We submit our proposal for a new political
agreement for coexistence with Spain based on the
recognition of our national identity and free association
with a plurinational state.
In short, as representatives of the Autonomous
Community of the Basque Country, which is an integral
part of the Basque nation, and in the exercise of our
capacity to decide, freely and democratically, our own
future, we propose to initiate a new phase in our
relationship with Spain, based on a new status of free
association.
Building on the potentialities of the current system
of autonomy laid down in the Statute of Gernika, we
propose a broadening of the basis of our self-government
in the following terms:
1) The lawful recognition of our national identity and
our right to decide our own future
Recognition of the right of the Basque people to be
consulted on decisions regarding their own future, i.e.,
the framework of internal and external relations it wishes
to have, based on respect for the will of the different
territorial and legal-political areas in which they are
located.
In the Autonomous Community of the Basque
Country, and in accordance with our right to decision as
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
an integral part of the Basque nation, we wish to exercise
the right to decide our own future through the
recognition of our full capacity to regulate and administer
democratically-conducted referendums to determine the
opinion of Basque society.
Likewise, and in accordance with the plurinational
nature of Spain and in compliance with the recognition of
nationality expressly enshrined in the Statute of Gernika,
we propose that the Basque nationality be recognized, as
the most natural thing in the world, for legal, political and
administrative purposes.
2) Freedom for the provinces of the Autonomous
Community of the Basque Country to establish
any type of relationship with the Foral
Community of Navarra.
This freedom is based on the right of the citizens of
the provinces of the Autonomous Community of the
Basque Country (Alava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa) and the
citizens of the Foral Community of Navarra to establish
whatever political ties and internal relations they consider
most appropriate to further their development and their
political, social, economic and cultural well-being, limited
only to the extent of their own will.
I would like to make it clear once and for all that
only the Navarrans have the right to decide their own
future. Based on a premise of respect, nobody can impose
or obstruct the channels and instruments that the citizens
of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country
and the Foral Community of Navarra freely decide to set
in place between them.
3) The right to establish relations with the Basque
provinces in Iparralde, located in France
We propose broadening the framework of relations
between the Basque provinces on both sides of the
Pyrenees in order to reinforce the special historical, social
and cultural ties with the provinces of Iparralde, located
France. For this reason, we propose a more wide-ranging
and flexible use of European Union regulations and of the
treaties which enable transfrontier cooperation between
regions belonging to different EU Member States.
4) The creation of an autonomous Basque judiciary
This judiciary, together with legislative and executive
powers, would complete the three powers of our selfgovernment. This means a judiciary which includes a
system of courts at all levels. It also means replacing the
State in the administration of justice in our autonomous
community, with no further limitations than the
application of the same procedural principles and
fundamental rights in force in Spain and based on a
framework of coordination and cooperation with Spain
and Europe.
Gehigarri berezia
5) Guarantee the political institutionalization
of the Basque Country
This implies full autonomy in designing of the
institutions of political self-government. It also means
exclusivity in terms of self-organization, public safety,
regional and local administration, and private law in
matters relating to community, family, inheritance,
enterprise and civil society.
6) Preserve our cultural identity
By developing an autonomous public policy which
allows us to keep the marks of cultural identity
throughout the educational system. This involves
exclusive powers in the areas of culture, language and
education and also exclusive powers in major aspects
such as the representation of cultural activities and the
participation of national teams selected by any of the
Basque sports federations who might wish to compete at
an international level.
7) Develop our own system of labor relations,
and economic and social protection
This includes the autonomous management of our
own economic policy, tax and fiscal system and labor
relations systems, as well as those relating to insurance,
welfare and social security, by establishing the necessary
mechanisms of solidarity and cooperation with the Spain
and Europe.
8) Guarantee the management of our
natural resources and infrastructures
This implies exclusive powers in the Basque Country
for the management of public policies for environmental
sustainability, land use, ownership of natural resources
and all communications infrastructures.
9) The establishment of a bilateral system of
guarantees with Spain which prevents the
unilateral modification of the agreement
If we are dealing with an agreement and a model of
freely and voluntarily shared sovereignty, it is essential to
establish a system of mutual guarantees to prevent the
restriction, modification or unilateral interpretation of the
agreement.
To this end, different formulas may be considered,
depending on the type and character of the competences
assumed.
For public policies adopted exclusively in the Basque
Country, any external legal regulations that might affect
these will be applicable in the Basque Country only after
ratification by the Basque Parliament.
In all other issues, it will be necessary to establish
conciliatory bodies and regulations to resolve conflicts in
a peaceful and democratic manner.
17
Gehigarri berezia
10) The power to have our own voice in Europe
and around the world
The Basque nation has been part of Europe since the
dawn of history, and the European Union is designed
today as a space in which future social, economic, political
and cultural relations between Basque Spanish and
European institutions should take shape.
Fortunately, in Europe, conflicts which are yet to be
resolved in the Spain have been overcome socially and
intellectually. Such fundamental aspects and democratic
principles as free association, the democratic right of
peoples to decide, shared sovereignty, transfrontier
cooperation and respecting the identities of stateless
nations are accepted in all normalcy in the European
environment and should set the guidelines for the
Spanish government to follow suit.
The institutions of the Autonomous Community of
the Basque Country wish to have direct presence in
European institutions in defense of our exclusive
competences and in representation of our own identity.
We are not suggesting anything that is not already
provided for in the Treaty of the European Union, as
shown by the presence and major role played by
numerous regions and nations, some of which even chair
councils.
In this regard, we propose to base our relationship
with Europe according to an “associated region or nation
status,” an advanced formula of participation which at
this time the European Convention itself is analyzing with
a view to the remodeling of the treaties of the Union for
the year 2004. In other words, our specificity and that of
other European nations must be referred to expressly in
the new European constitution.
Therefore, in accordance with the broadest
application of international law, we want to have a
presence in our own right in the world and in
international bodies, as well as the authority to sign
international treaties in order to promote our economic,
cultural and institutional interests in defense of our
identity as a people.
THE INSTRUMENTS
For a great many Basques, the “Fueros” or historical
rights of the Basque Country, continue to be our true
constitution.
In all cases, if there is political will, if there is a true
desire to resolve the so-called Basque problem, if there is
interest in a genuine project for political normalization
and coexistence, then the legal system in effect today
contains procedures and instruments that are perfectly
applicable.
18
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
The procedure is provided for in article 46 of the
Statute of Gernika, and the specific instruments are as
follows:
- The Additional Provision of the Statute of Gernika
“The acceptance of the system of self-rule
established in this Statute does not imply any waiver by
the Basque Country of any historical rights it may have
had in the past, and these may be brought up to date in
accordance with the stipulations of the legal code”
- The First Additional Provision
of the Spanish Constitution
“The Constitution protects and respects the historic
rights of the provinces with fueros. The general updating
of the fuero system shall be carried out, when
appropriate, within the framework of the Constitution
and of the Statutes of Autonomy.”
- The Second Repeal Provision of
the Spanish Constitution
“To the extent that it may still retain some validity,
the Law of October 25, 1839 shall be definitively repealed
in so far as it affects the provinces of Alava, Guipuzcoa
and Vizcaya.
Subject to the same terms, the Law of July 21, 1876
shall be considered to be definitively abolished.”
- The International Agreement on Civil and
Political Rights of December 19th, 1966
Ratified by the Kingdom of Spain by means of the
ratification instrument of April 13 1977 and published in
the Official Gazette, issue 103 of April 30th, 1997.
- The International Agreement on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights of December 19th 1966
Ratified by the Kingdom of Spain by means of the
ratification instrument of April 13 1977 and published in
the Official Gazette, issue 103 of April 30th 1997.
- LThe democratic legitimacy of the will of Basque
society expressed in a referendum and
formulated by its representative institutions
If we recognize the existence of a political problem,
we must find a political and commonly agreed solution. It
is not true that we have a legal problem, it is a problem
of political and democratic will.
The new model of relationship we propose fits
perfectly within the open and flexible interpretation of the
Constitution based on the plurinational nature of Spain,
as defended by Spanish experts on constitutional matters.
Moreover, this model is not intended to be the
exclusive right of the Basque Country. It might easily be a
model for the relations of other countries and
nationalities in Spain, based on the concept of state as an
asymmetric federal structure, defended by leading
representatives of the Socialist Party and, of course, based
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
Gehigarri berezia
on the concept of federalism of free association defended
by the United Left party.
But it does not stop there; this relationship model
based on free association and shared sovereignty is used
and recognized in Europe and in international
agreements. This model has represented the basis for the
construction of Europe itself and it has even been the
basis for the foundation of European states and of other
states in the western world.
In short, this involves a proposal that uses the legal
and political bases that have been used in Western
Europe, both now and in the past, to peacefully and
democratically resolve conflicts deriving from the
existence of different nationality groups within the same
state, or conflicts of relationship that arise between
national groups belonging to different states.
We are faced with one of the major issues that the
world must tackle in the twenty-first century, namely, how
to cater for the status of nations from a legal, social and
political viewpoint. How to respect the personality of
nations that are not states. How to channel their
presence, their rights and concerns. How to establish a
framework of relationships in the face of the new world
order that cannot be based on the elimination of the
marks of identity and on imposition, but on respect and
free association.
This is also the challenge we must face. Our
coexistence in the future will depend on our capacity to
tackle these issues through a process of dialogue.
The process:
A path that ends in respect for the
democratic will of Basque society
THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES
I wish to announce formally that this General Policy
Debate marks the beginning of a course of action that will
conclude with a new political agreement for coexistence,
articulated by means of an open, flexible, legal and
democratic process
a) Openness
b) Flexibility
The process will be approached in terms of flexibility,
without prejudging the final result and taking into
consideration the contributions of different social and
political groups that may join the process at different
phases.
c) Legality
The procedures set out in the statutory and
constitutional regulations in force shall be adhered to.
In particular, in the Autonomous Community of the
Basque Country, the legal reform procedure set out in
article 46 of the Statute of Autonomy will be adopted.
d) Democracy
The definitive ratification of the project will be made
in accordance with the democratic majority of Basque
society, by means of a referendum.
This final ratification process must be conducted
under adequate conditions so that Basque society may
express itself freely in a scenario free of violence and
without exclusions.
THE PHASES
Having established the principles or fundamental
issues that are to govern the development of the open
process, I am going to propose the different stages and
undertakings that, in my opinion, must be used as
guidelines in order to achieve the aims set out for this.
The process will not be limited strictly to the realm
of political representation, but open to the participation
of society as a whole. This principal of openness implies
non-exclusion, i.e., free participation by any of the
political social groups present in Basque society who may
wish to do so.
Presentation and initiation of the process
The process will be free of any kind of exclusivity.
The principle of non-exclusion will govern each of its
stages, but the non veto principle will also operate. We
will not accept obstructionist tactics.
In this regard, I wish to tell you that it is my intention to
start bilateral meetings next week with all political forces
and sensibilities in this House, to invite them personally
to take part in this open process and to determine their
As I have indicated, I wish to announce formally the
commencement of the process to reach a new political
agreement with the State. This general policy debate
marks the official opening of the process.
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Gehigarri berezia
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
in accordance with the procedure outlined in the Statute
of Gernika. After this, the procedures required to
negotiate and reach agreements with the Spanish
government will be initiated.
Ratification by referendum
The final ratification of the political Agreement
with the State, or, if appropriate, of the project passed
by the Basque Parliament, will be made by means of a
referendum, in a scenario free of violence and without
exclusions.
Conclusion. An initiative for coexistence
willingness to work or participate in its initial stage or
subsequent phases.
During this initial stage, I will also provide a personal
explanation of the basic issues of the project and the
process to business and union representatives and to the
social and cultural organizations of the Basque Country.
Public participation
Once this initial stage consisting of the bilateral
presentation of our proposal to political groups and
economic, social and cultural agents has been
completed, we will commence the process of informing
Basque society. The Basque people have the right to
know, participate and express their opinions about the
basic issues and principles of this draft solution. We
want to gather the opinions and contributions of society
itself in order to include these in our own reflections.
Preparation and presentation of an articled draft
text
In the exercise of its responsibility and of the
powers granted to it in the Statute of Gernika, the
Government undertakes to draw up and present, with a
maximum period of twelve months, an articled draft
text, drawn up in accordance with the basic issues
passed by this House, and taking into consideration any
social and political contributions that may have been
made during this period.
Consultation at a political and social level and
negotiation with the State
Based on this initial draft document, a new process
of consultation at a political and social level will be
initiated with the aim of drawing up a definitive
proposal.
This proposal will be disseminated among Basque
society before being remitted to the Basque Parliament,
20
I have presented an initiative for coexistence. We
have begun a process. I wish to be very clear and
transmit to Basque society my firm personal
commitment in going down this path. We know that it
will not be an easy one, but we want to put out a call
for hope. We want to put out a call for solutions. We
want to put out a call for the future.
We will not falter. Quite the opposite, we are going
to continue moving forward. We will continue to take
the initiative in presenting a democratic solution,
without violence and without imposition. Our solution is
based on free association and on the right of the Basque
people to decide their own future.
We have accomplished a great deal in the last
twenty-three years. Together we have built a modern
society founded on the principle of solidarity, a country
built up brick by brick, day by day; a country with a
strong work ethic and the will to do the job right. These
are the cornerstones to any successful project.
Today our country is growing economically, and
now ranks among the leaders in terms of human
development. It is a country which does not turn its back
on the disadvantaged and whose educational and
health services are an example to the rest of Europe.
We have worked hard towards the development of
this country and will continue to do so.
We are going to build over what has already been
built. And we are going to do so in this term of office.
We have no right to delay political normalization any
further. We have no right to pass the old problems of
our generation on to our children. We must be capable
of offering a new framework for coexistence to the next
generation.
We know where we want to go and we do have
an alternative. But more importantly, we are convinced
that we have the support of the Basque society to take
us there. ■
GAZTEMUNDU 2002
GA Z TE M U N D U 2002
21
GAZTEMUNDU 2002
22
GAZTEMUNDU 2002
GAZTEMUNDU ALA DANTZAMUNDU?
The participants in Gaztemundu 2002 thought it was an excellent idea to dedicate
this year’s program to a specific topic. Their responses to a survey filled out
following the experience showed that the event was a success.
For the first time since the program got
underway in 1996, this year’s Gaztemundu
focused on a specific subject. Judging by
participants’ answers to a follow-up survey, the
idea was a good one and the results even better.
Whenever any sort of seminar or workshop is put
together it is inevitable for there to be both
positive results and room for improvement. In
overall terms, however, the purpose of this
program was to improve the skill level of dance
teachers from Basque centers, and it turned out
to be a success.
In response to the request that an
evaluation be done on this year’s Gaztemundu
and the fact that it was dedicated to a single
theme, participants’ generally described the idea as
excellent. One person even said it was a dream come
true.
A number of people mentioned the fact that
dance is what attracts most of the young people to the
clubs and that for this reason focusing the program on
strengthening this aspect was of unquestionable
importance. Innovating the repertory and providing a
complete panorama of the reality of Basque dance
today which the participants were able to see first hand
was highly valuable. One person even said that this was
could very well be one of the most significant editions
of Gaztemundu in practical terms.
Scheduled activities
Survey responses also reflect a positive assessment
of the scheduled activities. It should be pointed out,
however, that some of the theoretical classes were “too
long,” for some people, keeping in mind that what the
participants were mainly interested in was dancing.
Another point seen in the survey, and which needs
to be worked out in future editions, is that no
translation was provided for participants from North
American, forcing their classmates to take on the extra
job of translator. A comment was also made to the
effect that, given the amount of information provided,
it would have been a good idea to have videos available
to help reinforce everything they learned.
Most of the
As for the dance
par ticipants ar e
instructors,
their
work,
optimistic about the
attitudes and helpfulness
futur e of Basque
were assessed as excellent in
dance in their clubs
most cases (described in such
terms as “very jatorrak” and
“top notch”). It should be underlined that the
participants appreciated their availability and level of
knowledge. Some people regretted the fact that the
instructors didn’t stay with them throughout the entire
experience. As far as the job of the leader was
concerned, the surveys showed that in spite of it being
an overwhelming task for just one person, he passed
the test with flying colors.
THE BEST thing: the program itself. Participants
got to see the different trends in Basque dance today;
take in real dance group rehearsals; learn about
different regional dances; get to know and share ideas
with dance group leaders from other countries; and
take a lot of new material home to their students.
Other highly evaluated activities included the trip
to Ochagavía, the Basque festival in Zarautz, the
rehearsals in Donostia, the all day workshop at the
Folklore Academy in Vitoria-Gasteiz, the dance class
led by Iñaki Arregui in Donostia, Urbeltz’s performance
of Pas de Basque, the entertaining dance class with
Patxi Pérez and the direct contact with Lehendakari
Juan José Ibarretxe on the day the group was officially
welcomed.
23
GAZTEMUNDU 2002
With regard to the makeup of the group,
everyone agreed that it was a positive and enriching
experience to have people from different countries and
age groups. Some people thought that “in spite of the
different languages,” in time things worked out
perfectly, while others felt they were more or less
limited because of the language barrier. As for the
varying levels of familiarity with Basque dance, some
people thought that this was an enriching aspect,
while others felt that the lack of a basic groundwork
may have kept people from taking full advantage of
the classes. According to a few opinions, some people
came to learn, while others came to show what they
already knew, and therefore had little interest in
learning new things themselves. All in all, we can see
that this part of the survey generated a wide range of
opinions.
Representatives from large dance groups saw the
program as positive, since it will helped them to
increase their groups’ dance repertory. As for dance
teachers from recently created groups–the ones that
said that they had picked up the little
they knew from videos–had a unique
opportunity to see first-hand the most
characteristic dances, along with the
ones they were familiar with and other
dances they had never heard of or seen
before. As one participant’s put it,
“Despite the fact that the more you
know, the more you realize how much
you don’t know, I think that what
we’ve learned is going to create a
‘dance explosion.”
Most of the participants were
optimistic about the future of dance at
their Basque clubs, although some said
that it is a hard subject to control (this is
probably the case with the smaller
clubs), since some years a lot of children
24
come to learn dances and other years very few, making
continuity a problem. Generally speaking, people
concurred that the best way to attract people to Basque
dance is by offering a more diverse repertory and new
dances. One person, however, stated that “the future of
our Basque center is complicated, much the same as
with the rest of the clubs.”
THE WORST thing: although several people said it
wasn’t bad enough to expressly indicate, a number of
people had the feeling that they didn’t have enough
time to fit in other activities, such as visiting different
sites or even going shopping. Other people’s comments
with regard to lack of time referred more to the fact that
they didn’t have enough time to assimilate all the
dances they’d been taught.
Probably the reason behind this is that too many
activities were packed into too little time; the material
given in fifteen days could have been better spread out.
The only way to do it would have been to concentrate
on a single region rather than trying to cover them all.
The fact of the matter is that on more than one occasion
GAZTEMUNDU 2002
we went over eleven different dances; it’s true that the
time could have been better distributed. In spite of this,
there were participants who said there was a lack of
more complicated dances (which tells us that they spent
their time going over the best known traditional Basque
dances, but that they would have liked to have learned
more).
Given the program’s intensity, it was unanimous
that everyone needed more time to assimilate
everything they had been shown. However, nobody
questioned either the importance of what they had
learned or that they would be able to pass most of it on
to their dance groups back home. They also agreed that
materials they were provided with would help in this
task.
Evaluation of lodging and transportation
In general terms, all of the Gaztemundu
participants rated their accommodations positively.
With regard to the hostel in Zarautz, the spacious
rooms and the good location were the two best
aspects pointed out; several people were not very
satisfied with the food.
The Barria hostel in Alava got a better overall
rating, although people mentioned that they could
have used a little more space in the rooms. A few
people liked the fact that they were in a more isolated
area, saying that it brought the group closer together.
Most participants, on the other hand, would have
preferred being located closer to a city. People like the
food at Barria, and transportation was given an A+.
Several people remarked on the driver’s punctuality
and friendliness.
Suggestions
One of the suggestions put forward by all of the
participants is that future editions of the program
should be longer if all of the dances seen this year are
to be covered. A number of the surveys suggested the
idea of the Basque dance teachers traveling to the
different clubs to give workshops (a much more
economically feasible alternative, and more effective).
This way a lot more people would have access to the
dances. Some people also suggested that the program
should be offered on a regular basis, and that material
should be sent regularly to the Euskal Etxeak to
modernize the dances. ■
CONCLUSIONS
• There is no doubt that certain organizational aspects can be improved for future editions, such as having the help
of a Spanish-English interpreter. But in general, it is clear that the experience was positive and that with the
amount of material participants took home with them from Euskadi, real palpable results will be seen the near
future. (“We had never before given anyone so much material,” said the President of Euskal Dantzarien Biltzarra.)
Access to information is essential in order to guarantee the future of Basque dance without losing sight of their
roots and without adulterating them too much.
• Following an experience of this type, which had never been done before, it is vital to create a platform to ensure
ongoing contact between the 38 dance leaders from 29 Basque centers in six countries. This platform will be
concretized shortly with the creation of an online forum, which will allow participants to share common concerns.
• Dance competitions between different groups held during Basque week celebrations and jaialdis in areas where
Basques have settled call for the need to broaden repertories. When there is a lack of new dances new
choreographies are often invented. The idea of creating new dances is not necessarily a bad thing; what should
not happen is for a dance to be adulterated just so that it is more showy
• Contact with different speakers representing different dance styles and trends; the opportunity to see new
choreographies such as Urbeltz’s Pas de Basque and traditional dances, including the ones from Ochagavía or
Basauri; taking part in the popular folk festival in Zarautz…. All of these activities contributed to fulfilling one of
the goals of this year’s program: to provide participants with the knowledge and skills they need to be able to
recognize different types of dances and have clear ideas about what should and should not be done when it
comes to traditional dance
• In general the perspectives are good. The participants now have material to support their work at home, and a
way to contact other dance teachers as well as people in Euskal Herria associated with Basque dance. ●
25
GAZTEMUNDU 2002
PA R T I C I PA N T S
26
ADDUINO, VIVIANE
Centro Vasco Haize Hegoa
Montevideo
Uruguay
[email protected]
AGUIRRE, MIREN ELENE
Grupo Oroitzak
C. V. de México A.C.
México
[email protected]
ALCELAY, XANTI
Onkari Basque Dancers
Boise
Idaho, USA
[email protected]
ALDAPE, JILL
Onkari Basque Dancers
Boise
Idaho, USA
[email protected]
ÁLVAREZ, MARCELA BEATRIZ
Grupo San Miguel de Aralar
Asoc. Euskal Echea de San Miguel
Chubut, Argentina
[email protected]
ALZUA, NESTOR JAVIER
Grupo Beti Gazte
C. V. Lagunen Etxea de Laprida
Buenos Aires, Argentina
[email protected]
ARRARÁS, Mª ISABEL
Eusko Etxea de La Plata
Buenos Aires
Argentina
[email protected]
ARRECHEA, VALERIE
Zazpirak Bat Dance Group
Basque Cult. Center S. Francisco
California, USA
[email protected]
ARRIOLA, RICARDO JAVIER
C. V. Laurak Bat
Buenos Aires
Argentina
[email protected]
ASTOLFI, JOSÉ IGNACIO
Grupo Beti Aurrera
Unión Vasca de Bahía Blanca
Buenos Aires, Argentina
[email protected]
AZPIRITXAGA, UNAI
C. V. de Caracas
Venezuela
[email protected]
BARINAGA, MARIA ELENA
Grupo Beti Alai
Ontario Basque Club
Oregon, USA
[email protected]
GAZTEMUNDU 2002
BARINAGA, LINDA
Grupo Boise’ko Gazteak
Boise Euzkaldunak
Idaho, USA
[email protected]
BELMAR, CRISTÓBAL
Grupo Irrintzi
Eusko Etxea
Santiago, Chile
[email protected]
BENGOA, MAITE Mª
C. V. Haize Hegoa
Montevideo
Uruguay
[email protected]
CAMINO, KATHLEEN
Zazpirak Bat Basque Club
Reno
Nevada, USA
[email protected]
CAMINO, MICHAEL
Grupo Zaharrer Segi
Big Horn Basque Club-Buffalo
Wyoming, USA
[email protected]
COMENZAÑA, DIEGO LUCIO
Grupo Gure Ametza
C. V. Eusko Alkartasuna
Macachín, Argentina
[email protected]
COOK, SUSANA
C. V. Ibai Guren
Paraná
Entre Ríos, Argentina
[email protected]
CORCOSTEGUI, LISA
Grupo Zenbat Gara
Universidad de Reno
Nevada, USA
[email protected]
27
GAZTEMUNDU 2002
FAMIN, MARIA LUCIA
Asoc. Vasco-Argentina Urrundik
Paraná
Entre Ríos, Argentina
[email protected]
GOUARNALUSSE, VERÓNICA
C. V. Guillermo Larregui
Chacabuco
Argentina
[email protected]
GUAZZONE, ANA
Grupo Euskadi Maitea
C. V. Azuleño Gure Txokoa
Buenos Aires, Argentina
[email protected]
HORMAECHEA, MARCELO
Grupo Beti Alai
C. V. Denak Bat
Mar del Plata, Argentina
[email protected]
HORMAZABAL, Mª ROCIO
C. V. Euskal Etxea
San Nicolás
Buenos Aires, Argentina
[email protected]
ITURRALDE, Mª VERÓNICA
C. V. Euzko Etxea
Necochea
Argentina
[email protected]
LARRAZA, SEBASTIÁN
Grupo Gaztedi Zutik
C. V. Zazpirak Bat-Rosario
Santa Fe, Argentina
[email protected]
LENTINI, EDURNE
C. V. Denak Bat
Lomas de Zamora
Buenos Aires, Argentina
[email protected]
MARTÍN, MARÍA MERCEDES
C. V. Gure Etxea
Tandil
Buenos Aires-Argentina
[email protected]
28
GAZTEMUNDU 2002
MARTÍNEZ, NATALIA GISELLA
C. V. Eusko Etxea de La Plata
Buenos Aires
Argentina
[email protected]
MUIR, WENCESLAO
C. V. Anaitasuna
Maipú
Buenos Aires, Argentina
[email protected]
OTEIZA, Mª ALEJANDRA
Grupo Gaztedi Zutik
C. V. Zazpirak Bat-Rosario
Santa Fe, Argentina
[email protected]
PLAZA, JULIE
Grupo Beti Alai
Ontario Basque Club
Oregon, USA
[email protected]
RATO, SANTIAGO JAVIER
Grupo Lagun Zarrak
Instituto Euskal Echea de Llavallol
Buenos Aires, Argentina
RÍOS, NORMA BEATRIZ
Eusko Kultur Etxea
Buenos Aires
Argentina
SANCHOLUZ, FR. JAVIER
C. V. Denak Bat
Cañuelas
Buenos Aires, Argentina
SANSINANEA, GRACIELA
Grupo Jai Alai
C. V. Eusko Etxea de Villa María
Córdoba, Argentina
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
TURNER, SUSANA ALICIA
Grupo Beti Aurrera
Unión Vasca de Bahía Blanca
Buenos Aires, Argentina
[email protected]
ARAOLAZA, OIER
Instructor de danzas vascas
Grupo Kezka-Eibar
[email protected]
MAIA, JON
Instructor de danzas vascas
Grupo Ereintza-Renteria
[email protected]
ELORRIAGA, JON
Monitor de Gaztemundu
[email protected]
29
GAZTEMUNDU 2002
“The most powerful
symbol of the Basque
legacy”
All of the people who took part in the
most recent edition of the Gaztemundu
program share the same passion–dance.
For many of them, it is the most
important cultural legacy handed down to
them by their forefathers and mothers.
“All of us here are of the same heart. It doesn’t
matter whether we are Mexicans, Argentineans,
Uruguayans, Chileans, Venezuelans or North
Americans. We adore the countries we were born, but
we feel very close to our roots, if not in physically, at
least in spirit.” These are the words Mexico-born Miren
Aguirre used to describe the group of people making
up Gaztemundu 2002, a collective united by their love
of dance. “We’re all very musical. You could tell right
off, and it helped create the good atmosphere that was
with us wherever we went. As soon as a note was
played, we just couldn’t hold still. It was as if someone
had pressed the ‘everyone to the dance floor’ button,
and we had no choice but to obey.”
For Miren, much the same as for the rest of the
participants, it was very important to have first-hand
access to all of the information and dances taught over
the course of the program. “The information we had
on Basque dance came from students who were
students of other students who had attended a class
taught by a dance teacher one day at our center …in
other words, a bit distorted. Now we really do have
good material that we can use to reinforce our
repertories.”
Maite Bengoa from Uruguay agreed with Miren,
adding that dantzaris are very important because they
are the ones who represent the Basque centers during
public events. In Maite’s opinion the dance groups play
an important role in the lives of the euskal etxeak, since
dance is what draws all the young people into the
clubs. “They start by dancing and then go on to form
part of the organization’s structure. They’re usually the
ones who remain involved in the clubs longer than
anyone.” As far as her experience in Gaztemundu is
concerned, Maite Bengoa, who had already been to
Euskadi on a number of occasions, said that one of the
things she valued the most was the chance to see the
country through the eyes of all of the Gaztemundu
participants she has shared her time with.
Lisa Corcostegui from the United States is working
on her Ph.D. on the anthropology of Basque dance. Lisa
also thought the experience was extremely positive: “I
think that dance is the most powerful symbol of the
Basque legacy in the diaspora because it is visible and
gives an impression of vitality. Dance manages to get
through to a lot of people. They become interested and
end up looking into other expressions of Basque
culture.”
Lisa is convinced that the fact that
people from different Basque organizations have shared their lives during
the two-week program is an important
step forward. “We all worked together,
something that is not very common due
to the sense of competition between
some of the euskal etxeak, which are
often determined to prove they can
create the fanciest or most complicated
dances. In this sense, I think that living
together has broken down a barrier, and
those of us who have taken part in
Gaztemundu will work together more
closely from now on,” said the young
30
GAZTEMUNDU 2002
dancer from the Zenbat Gara dance group in
Reno.
Chile-born Cristóbal Belmar and
Venezuelan Unai Azpiritxaga both said that
they felt at home during their visit to Euskadi.
“I love the way people socialize in this
country,” commented Cristóbal, while his
friend Unai shared some thoughts on the
changes he has seen in the country. “I hadn’t
been here for twelve years, and the
enormous progress that has taken place is
evident. As a society, Euskadi is completely on
par with the rest of Europe.”
This opinion was shared by Graciela
Sansinanea, one of the many Argentinean
participants in this year’s Gaztemundu
program. Graciela added that in spite of all
the sore muscles from dancing, coming back to Euskal
Herria had been a wonderful experience. “People were
so welcoming. One rainy afternoon in Ochagavía a
family opened up the doors to their farmhouse so we
wouldn’t get wet. That to me was one of the most
beautiful experiences of an altogether fantastic trip,”
added Graciela.
Her fellow countrymen Diego Lucio
Comenzaña and Francisco Javier Sancholuz also
said that they were returning to Argentina after
an unforgettable experience. Diego had already
been to Euskadi three years ago, but this was
Francisco Javier’s first trip to the Basque
Country. “I was very pleasantly surprised, since
part of what I had imagined turned out to be
true. The farmhouse-dotted Euskadi we were
told about in stories really exists, even though
the country has a significant level of
development. It shows that rural life and
industry can live side by side.” ■
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DANTZARIS AND SUCHLIKE
Where does rhythm lie?
In our feet, in our ears, in our blood?
Some rhythms come before the music
and suddenly begin to pulsate
when we put on a pair of espadrilles.
Others go and hide in the corner
only to surprise us with txintxarris,
swords and even wicker arches.
Age, gender, and trade make no difference;
the rhythms vibrate from deep inside
and take over our senses.
Some feel the rhythm by dancing,
other dance with their voice
and some even manage to dance with their eyes.
The most daring make ideas dance,
and there are many
who dance with their memory.
Who did not tremble
when they saw the glass in the Suletino?
Who was not moved by the Aurresku?
Who did not feel their heart skip a beat
at the Fandango?
Rhythm can be seen and heard...
The dizzying succession of notes
might make us lose our partners,
the frenzy of the choreographies might let fly
a sash or even a handkerchief.
Out of breath, we think
this could be the last tune;
But when the next one starts up,
we can’t help but get up and start all over again.
SUSANA COOK
Participant in Gaztemundu 2002